Assigh oj



Patented DeO.16,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Za in UCIZZZFE 9AMQAWW)M\ H. F. STARRETT. PANEL BOARD AND PANEL BOARD CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FIILED MAY15, Iels.

H. F. STABRETT. PANEL BOARD AND PANEL BOARD CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15, I918- Patented Dec. 16,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- H. F. STARRETT.

PANEL BOARD AND PANEL BOARD CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15. I918- Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

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branch fuse receptacles 18, the main con nection terminals 19, and the branch connection terminals 20 and a bus-bar system- 21'. The insulating base is made in three parts. These parts are the front plate 22 which supports the main fuses 16 and the main switch 17, the front plate 23 which supports the branch fuse receptacles 18 and their terminals, and the rear plate 24 which extends beneath both of the front plates and s between which and the front plates the busbar system 21 is inclosed and housed. These plates may be of any suitable insulating material, such as a molded insulating coniposition.

The insulating rear plate 24 is supported in the panel-box 10 by means of a pair of brackets secured to the bottom of the panel-box in any suitable manner, as by screws 26. The plates 22 and 23 are secured to the rear plate 24 in any suitable manner, as by means of screws 27. The screws 27 located at the ends of the rear plates 24 ex tend through these rear plates and are screwed into the brackets 25 to secure the 25 space the panel-bard a sufiicient distance i from the bottom of the panel-box to provide and the meter.

' a wiring space between the pane1-board and "the bottom .of the box for the Wiring connections for the main and branch circuits The rear plate 24 is provided with a plurality of notches or recesses 28 iii-fits edges,

" which afford passage for the wiringconnem tions from the wiring space between the panel-board and the bottom of the box to the binding-terminals 19 and 20 for thc main and branch circuits, respectively, and.

to the binding-terminals 29 for the meter connections. The side edges 30 of the front plates 22 and 23 are located a sufficient distance from the sides of the panel-box to permit the passage of the wiring connections between said edges and the sides of the box,

as shown in Figs. and 7.

Positioned over the terminal connections 29 is an insulating housing 29, which completely covers the meter connections and prevents tampering therewith. This housing cut out to fit over the terminal connections and so that the'base thereof will rest upon the surface of the panel-board. The housing is secured to the panel-board by means of two bolts 29". The bolts 29 are secured in thepanel-board in any suitable manner and protrude upwardly from the front face thereof so as to project through the upper face of the housing. The extreme forward end of these bolts are transversely perforated.

When the housing 29 is put into place it is securely held. in this position by the nuts 29 which are screwed down on the bolts 29 to the surface of the housing. When these nuts have thus been put in place, a wire 29 is inserted through the transverse perforation in the bolt, and this wire is permanently sealed by a sealing means such as 29. It consequently follows that when the meter has beenwired into the panel-board and the housing 29 secured in position and sealed, it will be impossible to tamper with the meter connections without such acts being detected. The panel-board may be reinforced by a pair of steel stri )s (Figs. 2 and 5) which extend across t e joint between the front. plates 22 and 23 into which the screws 27 extend.

Each main fuse receptacle 16 comprises an insulating base 31 and shell and center contacts 32 and 33, respectively, for engagement with the corresponding contacts of the fuseplug. The center contact 33 comprises a screw extending through an opening in the conductor stri 34, which extends from the binding terminal 19, the screw being threaded into a nut 35 located in a recess in the rear face of the plate 22 (Figs. 2 and 3). The shell contact 3 2.is electrically connected with the switch contact 36 by means of a conducting plate 37, to one end of which the switch-contact 36 is secured and the other end of which is in engagement with the flange 38 of the shell contact 32. The shell contact 32 is held in place on the base 31, and the .base 31 is held in place on the plate 22 by means of the screw center contact 33, the head of which bears on, a metal washer 39, which washer in turn bears on an insulating washer 40, which bears on the end of the contact-blades 42, one pivoted to oach'of the 7 posts 41, a cross-piece 43 of insulating material'connecting the arms 42; and a handle 44. connected to the cross-piece 43 for actuating thesw'itch. The pivot-posts 41 are electrically connected with two of the binding-t-..*rminals 29, respectively, for the meter 12. The pivoted arms 42 are so mounted as to make or break connection with respect to the switch contacts 36.

The branch circuitfuse-receptacles 18 are made in pairs. Each pair, as shown. in Fig. 4. comprises an insulating base 45, two center contacts 46, and two shell contacts 47 supported by the insulating base 45. One of the center contacts 46 is electrically connected. with a bus-bar of one polarity, and the other contact 46 of the fuse-receptacle 18 is electrically connected with a bus-bar of the opposite polarity.

Referring to Fig. 6, which shows the busbararrangement, the bus-bar 48 is shown riveted at 49 to a terminal 50, which extends through the plate 23 from one or the hinding-terminals 29-. of the meter. Two auxthrough an opening in the front plate 23 board proper, the notches in said rear plate.

into the busbar 4:8.

binding-terminals for the meter.

iliary bus-bars 51, extending transversely, board is then slipped back into position in are secured to the mainline-bar 48 by means the box and secured to the mounting braclc of" rivets 52. ()ne center contact of each of ets bv means of the screws 27. two of the branch-circuit fuse-receptacles 18 is screwed into the auxiliary bus-bars 51 and scription that the rear' plate 24 functions to one center contact of each of two of the cover and insulate the current-carrying c0111 branch circuit fuse receptacles 18 is screwed ductors. or bus-bars at the rear of the front 4 plates'22 and 23, and also serves to hold the The bus-bar 53, of opposite polarity to bus-bars on the front plate 23 in position, thatpf the bus-bar 48, is secured by means and that it further serves as a covering for of rivets to a terminal 55, which extends the wiring gutter formed around the paneland is electrically connected with one of the 24 serving as Hiding and positioning means Two for the con uctors' orwires which are transversely-extending auxiliary bus-bars 56 brought up from. underneaththe. panel to be are secured to this same bus-bar, by means connected to terminals of the -circuit-con'- It will be evident from the foregoing .de

' of fvets 57. One center contact of each of trolling: apparatus mounted on the front of a auxiliary bus-bars 51 which it crosses.

in position in the recesses provided therefor mounting said panel-board in s'aid-"panel- ,53 as indicated at 4,6 in Fig. 6. The busbus-bars 56 are insulated from the main busbar 48 by means of rectangular sheets 57 of variations and applications within its spirit insulating material placed between the busand scope as set forth the following, bar 48 and the auxiliary bus-bars 56. A claims. similar sheet of insulating material 57 'is two-of the fuse-receptacles 18 is screwed into the board, p According to m 1nvent1on, therefore, a

these. tran sversely-extending bus-bars 56 and very maple and 0 cap construction is proone center contact of each of two of fusereceptacles 18 is screwed into the bus-bar vided for panel-board units equipped with a covered or inclosed wire gutter. bars 48, 51, 53 and 56 are located in recesses in the insulating plate 23. The auxiliary the specific embodiment thereof herein inns? trated and described, butis capable of many What I claim placed between the mainbus-bar 53 and'the' as Letters Patent is Each shell contact 47 is electrically conin combination, a panel-box,"a panel-board as new and desireto attire 1. In a device of the character descri'be 'il,

nectedwitli one of'the binding terminals comprising apluralityof front platesan'd' 20 of the branch circuit connections by. a rear plate, circuit-controllin".apparatifs means of a conducting strap 58 having an mounted on said f1 ont' plates ,t c said rear annular portion into which are threaded plate being of greater w1dth than said front screws 59, the heads of which engage the platesfwherebya'protruding ledge of flange 60 of shell contact 47. In assembling a panel-box unit of the type said front plates, the width of said rear plate described, the bus-bars and circuit controlbeing substantially equal to the inner width ling apparatus are first secured to the front of said panel-box, means to secure said front rear plate extends fromthe side edgesfof 3 plate 22, after which the bus-bars are placed plate to said rear plate, andime'an's for in the front plate The front, plates 22 box. and 23 are then secured to the rear plate 2 described.

. 2. In a device of the character described,- by means of the screws 2-7, as hereinbefore in combination, a panel-box, a panel-board'- comprising a plurality of front'plates and.

After the plates have been thus assema rear plate, circuit-controlling apparatus bled, the circuit-controlling apparatus, that mounted on said front plates, said rear plate is, the fuse receptacles, are mounted inposibeing greater in width than said front plate,

tion on the front plate 23 and the panelwhereby a ledge protrudes from the side.

board is then in position to be mounted on edges of said front lates, the width of said rear plate beingsu stantially equal to' the i width of said panel-box, mean's'tosecure said front late to said rear plates, means to mountsaid paneLboard in said panel-box, and means associated with said rear late to permit the passage of wires theretii mounted on said front plate. 3. in device of the character described, .1n combination, a panel-box, a panel-board consisting of a front plate and a rear'plate,

said rear plate being of greater width than rough, said wires connecting with the apparatus 65 plate providedtherefor, and the panelsaid front platex so as to form a protruding 13o Y i,s25,oa2.

z le d-gejon each side of said front plate, said '.Iear plate fitting snugly in said panel-box,

b 4:. In a device of the character described,

in combination, a panel-box, a panel-board consisting of a front plate and a rear plate, grooves cut in the rear surface of said front .1)late,'buSbarS fittedvin said roove, means to secure said rear-plate to'said front plate to maintain said bus-bars in position in said 'grooves said 'rear plate being of a greater 'idth than said front plate, so as'to form uding ledge on each side of said front aidrear plate fitting snugly in said -boX, means'for mounting said paneloar'd int-said panel-box, whereby a wiring 'permit the p-assa eof said wires from beneath said paneloard to the front thereof.

-'5 .-.-;In a device of the character described,

ii combination, a panel-box, a panel-board character,'means to'secure said front plate to saidrear plate, said rear plate being of greater-width than said front plate so as to form a protruding ledge on each side of said said panel-box, means for mounting said panel-board in said panel-box whereby a wiring space is provided below said panelboard, and means associated with said rear plate to permit the passage of .wires' from beneath said paiiel-board to the front thereof, saidwires passing over the edges of said said panel-box and beingof greater width than said front plate, whereby a protruding ledge is formed on each side of said front plate to cover said wire gutter.

- 7 A panel-board and panel-box construe tion comprising, incombination, a panel- 7 pace is -provided below said panel-board, I I and means associated with said rear-plate to 25 box', a panel-board mounted therein 'and spaced apart fronrthe bottom of said box, conduit openings in said box, a wiring gutter formed around said panel-board, said panel-board comprising a front plate and a rear plate, said rear plate fitting snugly in .c

said panel-box and being of greater wldth' than said front plate, whereby a protruding ledge is formed on each side of said front plate to cover said Wiring gutter, andmeans associated with said rear plate to permit the passage of wires therethrough to said front plate.

8. A panel-board and panel-box construction comprising, in combination, a panelbox, a panel-board mounted therein and spaced apart from the bottom of said box, conduit openings in said box, a. wirin gutter formed around said panel-board, sai panelboard comprising a front plate and a rear plate, circuit-controlling apparatus mounted on said front plate, saidv rear plate fitting snugly 'in said panel-box and being of greater width than'said front plate, whereby a, protruding ledge isformed on each side of said front plate to-cover said wiring -gut-. ter, and notches cut in said reagplate alongv the, line of union between the exterior edges of said front plate and said rear plate to permit the passage of wires through said.

rear plate over the side edges of said front plate for connection to the apparatus mounted onthe said front plate. 1

9. In a anel-board and panel-box con- .struction, in combination, a panel-box, a frontplate, sald rear plate fittlng snugly m aratus-mounting'front'plate and a panelx inclosing rear plate, fastening means for interconnecting said front and rear plates, a protruding ledge of said rear. plate extending from the side edges of said front late, and a .wirin gutter, said protruding edge inclosing sait wiring gutter.

10. In a panel-board and panel-box con- 'StlllClZlOIl, incombination, a panel-box, a

panel-board, said board comprising an aparatus-mounting front lateand a panel- ;px inclosing rear plate, astening means for interconnecting said front and rear plates, 21 protruding ledge of said rear plate extending from the side edges of said front plate, a wiring gutter, said protruding ledge covering said wirin gutter, and notches cut in said protruding edges to permit the passage of Wires from said wiring gutter through said rear plate and to the apparatus mounted on said front plate.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

. HENRY F. STARR r111. 

